Tufts Medicine and Acadia Healthcare break ground on new behavioral health hospital to serve the Greater Boston area

Special to the Advocate

On March 27, 2024, Tufts Medicine and Acadia Healthcare Company held a ceremony to celebrate the start of construction on the previously announced state-of-the-art, 144-bed behavioral health hospital in Malden, Mass. The event occurred on the site of the new hospital (100 Hospital Rd.) and celebrated the joint venture partnership between Tufts Medicine and Acadia.

“We are pleased construction has begun on our new behavioral health hospital and training site for future behavioral health clinicians,” said Tufts Medicine President/CEO Michael Dandorph. “We are excited to have a partner such as Acadia who brings unrivalled behavioral health expertise and shares our commitment to quality patient care. This occasion marks an important milestone in our effort to improve access to behavioral health care for our patients and the region.”

Slated to open in fall 2025, the hospital will be a center of excellence serving patients of all ages. For decades, MelroseWakefield Hospital and Lawrence Memorial Hospital have been known and highly respected for the inpatient behavioral healthcare services that they provide in their respective communities. The proposed new hospital will build upon that legacy, offering the latest in inpatient behavioral healthcare and intensive outpatient programs, and providing the continuum of care needed to support patients and their families.

“This new hospital will provide the greater Boston area with expanded access to quality behavioral health services and treatment from specialized clinical teams in a carefully designed environment,” said Acadia Healthcare CEO Chris Hunter. “We are so proud to be affiliated with Tufts Medicine, working together to address the strong need in the Commonwealth and building upon their legacy and commitment to behavioral health services. This hospital will be a strong member of the Malden community, collaborating with local organizations, hospitals and first responders.”

  The new hospital will also serve as a teaching hospital for psychiatry and other behavioral health professionals, training students and residents from the Tufts University School of Medicine. This will address the shortage of clinical behavioral healthcare professionals in the area, as many of these new professionals will go on to practice in the Commonwealth and carry forth Tufts Medicine’s work to improve the health and well-being of the Commonwealth

Following are some comments from local officials:

“Health care should be a basic human right, but too many people in Massachusetts currently struggle to access the high-quality, timely, and affordable mental health care they need,” said State Senator Jason Lewis. “This new state-of-the-art behavioral health hospital will strengthen our state’s ability to manage the mental health crisis and provide teaching opportunities to ensure a robust workforce for years to come.” He also acknowledged those who “worked for years to reinvigorate this center of community wellness.”

“I am pleased to welcome Tufts Medicine and Acadia Healthcare to Malden and for their partnership in opening this new hospital that will address a critical need in our community for accessible and quality behavioral health services,” said Mayor Gary Christenson. He also thanked he people who “worked tirelessly to make this project a reality.”

“In recent years, we have seen an urgent rise in need for behavioral health services across the state. Too many of our residents are still struggling to access the mental and behavioral health care they need… This new facility will be a great asset to Malden and expand our city’s capacity to provide accessible, affordable, high quality behavioral health services and address health care needs of our community,” said State Representative Steven Ultrino. He noted “the collaborative efforts” to create the new hospital.

“The lack of access to behavioral health facilities has long been an issue that has been affecting patients and their families throughout the Commonwealth,” said State Representative Paul Donato. “By expanding upon the critical behavioral health services currently being offered by MelroseWakefield Hospital and Lawrence Memorial Hospital, the addition of this facility to our community is a step in the right direction in ensuring all patients have equitable access to the highest quality care possible.”

“This project promises to be transformative for our neighborhood, our city, and our entire region. Access to mental health care is a pressing issue in Malden and beyond, and we are proud to partner on a new behavioral health facility that will help fill this deep need while enhancing the community’s wellbeing and honoring the history of this site,” said Ward 3 Councillor Amanda Linehan.